“SPLASH SISTERS” MCCARTHY AND RUSSELL COMBINE FOR 52 POINTS IN GEE-GEES’ 69-51 WIN
Coming off a loss on the road to the Guelph Gryphons the week prior, the Gee-Gees women’s basketball team was back at Montpetit Hall this past Friday for their season home opener against the Laurentian Voyageurs.
With only one returning starter, Allie McCarthy, from last season’s roster, the Gee-Gees’ 2024-25 reserves have stepped into starting roles. Rennee Paquette, Enora Touloute, and Allie McCarthy each logged 40 minutes against Guelph in their season opener, indicating that the team’s depth remains in transition as new lineups continue to develop.
Nevertheless, the Gee-Gees showed promise in their home opener, earning a 69–51 victory over the Voyageurs.
Coach Rose-Anne Joly acknowledges that “it hasn’t been easy” as the team is still “finding its identity.” She also credits the team for their strong performance in spite of being down a player due to Victoria Brideau being in recovery: “if we had scored on that last possession we would have gone above 70 with the roster we currently have, so I think we’re slowly finding the right pieces.”
Just three minutes in, the Voyageurs’ Jemaya Chinyelugo hit a smooth three-pointer. In response, Gee-Gees’ Bailey Russell drove hard to the basket, drawing a foul and converting the layup, tying it at 3-3.
This back-and-forth action remained consistent for the rest of the first quarter. Russell was unstoppable early, hitting 6 of her first 8 shots, including a deep three that put the Gee-Gees ahead 10-8 midway through the quarter.
Nevertheless, Emilie Lafond kept the Voyageurs up by a margin by dominating the boards with two offensive rebounds that led to quick putbacks, keeping Laurentian within a basket at 12-10. Lafond was a great threat in the first half as she scored 13 points including several mid-range jumpers and aggressive putbacks after offensive rebounds. In fact, Lafond grabbed 11 rebounds while consistently battling for position in the paint.
In spite of this, Allie McCarthy helped the Gees stand their ground in the second quarter, hitting two three-pointers and converting four free throws that contributed heavily to their 27-23 halftime advantage.
In the second half, Ottawa’s defense clearly took aim at Emilie Lafond. Lafond, who had posted 13 points and 11 rebounds in the first half, struggled to find open looks as the Gee-Gees held her to 0 points and 1 rebound in the second half.
When asked about the Gee-Gees’ defensive pressure on Lafond, Coach Joly commented: “You know she’s a big presence inside and we really wanted to make sure she was kept outside of the key so our guards could finish close to the rim.”
Towards the end of the third, Russell continued her scoring streak, finishing several drives with layups, while McCarthy controlled the paint, grabbing 8 rebounds and finishing with a strong post move for two points. Renée Paquette contributed with a pair of offensive rebounds and a critical assist to Rheault-Langué, who drained the three that extended the lead to 52-44.
In the final quarter, the Gee-Gees maintained their momentum and reaped the benefits of their second-half surge as they pulled themselves ahead of the Voyageurs at 69-51.
McCarthy tied her record for most points in a game at 27, alongside 9 rebounds. Russell ended with 25 points and 6 rebounds.
When reflecting on what she’s looking forward to seeing from the dynamic duo this season, Coach Joly remarked: “The ‘splash sisters’ that we’re calling them. Bailey and Allie, they’re doing an amazing job of trying to get all the way to the rim and shooting those three’s. Allie is working so hard, she’s an All-Star in my heart and I’m just trying to coach to the best of my ability to give her the final year she deserves.”
The next day, the team then secured an 83-59 win against the Nipissing Lakers. With their 2-1 record, the team sits at third in the OUA East below Carleton and Queen’s, both currently 3-0. This weekend, the Gee-Gees will hit the road again to challenge Queen’s undefeated streak in Kingston.
